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Trade Capacity Building and Development
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law in May 2000 to expand U.S. trade and investment with Sub-Saharan Africa, to stimulate economic growth, to promote a high-level dialogue on trade and investment-related issues, to encourage economic integration, and to facilitate sub-Saharan Africa's integration into the global economy. As of April 2009, 40 sub-Saharan African countries were eligible for AGOA benefits.

Since its inception, AGOA has helped to increase U.S. two-way trade with sub-Saharan Africa.

Background/Previous AGOA Forums

U.S.-AGOA Trade Facts

In 2008, U.S. total imports from sub-Saharan Africa were more than triple the amount in 2001, and U.S. total exports to sub-Saharan Africa more than doubled during this period.

In recent years, over 98 percent of African exports to the United States entered duty-free, either under AGOA, GSP, or zero-duty Most Favored Nation rates.

Recent AGOA News

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Discusses Obama Administration's Commitment to Global Food Security at AGOA Forum in Kenya (08/05/09)

Secretary Vilsack at AGOA (USDA Radio News; 08/05/09 - wma, real, mp3)

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Attend AGOA Forum in Kenya Next Week (07/29/09)
 — AGOA Fact Sheet (July 2009)

Foreign Press Center Briefing on the 8th U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation (AGOA) Forum (07/23/09; U.S. Department of State)

Obama Administration Completes 2008 Annual Review of the Generalized System of Preferences (6/30/2009)

USDA Secretary Speaks on Food Security, Climate Change During Chicago Meeting (06/29/09; remarks before the Chicago Council on Global Affairs)

AGOA Resources

America.gov (U.S. Department of State)

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
— U.S. Generalized System of Preferences
— USTR Office of African Affairs

U.S. International Trade Commission
— U.S.-African Trade Profile (2005-2008; source: International Trade Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce).
— Sub-Saharan Africa: Effects of Infrastructure Conditions on Export Competitiveness, Third Annual Report (USITC April 2009 Report)
— U.S. International Trade Commission Monthly and Quarterly Data On U.S.- Sub-Saharan Africa Trade
— Determining the AGOA Eligibility of a Specific Product: Search interface with the International Trade Commission's (ITC) U.S. Tariff and Import Database for tariff and import data.

Upcoming Events

The eighth AGOA Forum will be held August 4-6, 2009, in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of this year’s Forum is “Realizing the Full Potential of AGOA through Expansion of Trade and Investment.” The Forum will focus on how countries can take full advantage of the range of export opportunities that AGOA offers. The Ministerial discussions will be held on August 5-6, and the private sector and civil society groups will hold related events on August 4.  (Official Government of Kenya AGOA Forum Website)

The Corporate Council on Africa's (CCA) 7th Biennial U.S.-Africa Business Summit will be held September 29-October 1 in Washington, D.C. The CCA is a U.S.–Africa non-profit, membership organization that assists U.S. companies that are currently or wish to do business on the continent.

Web Sites
— Official AGOA Web site
— USTR's AGOA Web pages
— Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa